After converting my home oven, progressing to a Bakers Pride, burning up a kitchen aid, then getting a DLX, I really did it this time. I bought a used MAM 505 wood only oven. It's going to be set outside, off the deck. The pad and block are set. Setting the oven is next. I can't find a lot of information about this oven other than http://www.mamforni.it/eng-prodotti.htm and http://www.brickovens.biz/equipment/mam-brick-oven.htm. I intend to brick around or entomb it. I haven't seen anything like this done before. Any ideas?

Thanks, Bill. I really appreciate it. James over at Forno Bravo has been a big help.The unfinished roof (corners) are asphalt for now. We're trying to find someone who knows about standing seam copper. It would serve to compliment the clinker brick..

This thing was sitting around for a long time and the interior is full of soot and humidity. A few fires later, about 70 percent is now white. Here's a pic when just about half of the oven was clear. Huge learning curve. Here's a trial pizza. BTW, I dig the YouTube video. Since I have you on the line, what did you think of the joint in Albuquerque... il Vicino?I was there last spring and visited the one in art(?) district. I wasn't thrilled.

Since I have you on the line, what did you think of the joint in Albuquerque... il Vicino?I was there last spring and visited the one in art(?) district. I wasn't thrilled.

I haven't been to the one in ABQ, but they have one here in Santa Fe which I visited about 5 years ago. I don't recall the details, but was also not impressed. I do recall not wanting to return. IIRC, they use Earthstone ovens.

Thanks, Peteg. Make no mistake. I am not handy. I pretty much just pointed to what needed to be done. It took about 2 1/2 months to get things coordinated and handled. All in all, it's pegging the COOL needle in my neighborhood.

Congrats on the new toy. Just wondering, what is the preheat time to get her to temp? What type of wood do you burn? How much wood do you burn for one service, from start to end. Ever tried baking loaves of bread? Adam

Since it's outside and cold, it takes A LOT of oak wood. I've learned to use a big propane torch attached to a 20 lb. tank. After heating up the flue, I'll ignite the stack. It takes roughly 3 1/2 to 4 hours to get it right. I'll run it for about 14 pizzas through the evening depending on who comes over.A smaller, 800 to thousand pounder would require much less time and fuel.Haven't tried bread yet. I can't say how much wood is burned but I can say I will fill a big coffee can with ashes the next day.

I am actually, no right now, but soon. Its just that I know of no one that owns one, and the sales people usually only tell you very conservative estimates, at best. Living here in SoCal, firewood is very expensive, in the range of $400 a cord....so knowing correct preheat estimates is pretty important. I never thought of using a propane torch to assist in the heating, in my head I was thinking of just lighting a #20 bag of Kingsford in there. But that won't get you anywhere near a 4 hour preheat. I am assuming that you think that it was still worth it, so that is good. I'll have more questions in a spell for you. Thanks again!

You can also use Isopropanol (Isopropyl alcohol), which is just the oxide of propane. I actually heat my cold bathroom during the winter, just before I take a shower, using Isopropanol and a garden sprayer (with a brass tip) as a flame-throwing blow torch. It takes about 1.3 seconds to bring the temperature of the whole bathroom up from 54 F to 86 F. Just burning the Isopropanol after pouring it out onto a surface isn't enough. An air-injected Isopropanol flame combusts more completely and produces much higher temperatures. Even propane can't compete with it. I would like to point out at this time that I take no responsibility for anyone else's carelessness, and I make no warranty for the performance or safety of anyone else's Isopropanol flame-throwing apparatus.

You can also use Isopropanol (Isopropyl alcohol), which is just the oxide of propane. I actually heat my cold bathroom during the winter, just before I take a shower, using Isopropanol and a garden sprayer (with a brass tip) as a flame-throwing blow torch. It takes about 1.3 seconds to bring the temperature of the whole bathroom up from 54 F to 86 F. Just burning the Isopropanol after pouring it out onto a surface isn't enough. An air-injected Isopropanol flame combusts more completely and produces much higher temperatures. Even propane can't compete with it. I would like to point out at this time that I take no responsibility for anyone else's carelessness, and I make no warranty for the performance or safety of anyone else's Isopropanol flame-throwing apparatus.

- red.november

GOOD LORD MAN!!! Boy November, you are definitely not a boring neighbor! It must look like "Backdraft" in your bathroom every morning as the air races in to replace your 1.3 second inferno. But I bet that the room must be comfy afterwards. I guess that I should also tell you that I work for State Farm Insurance company, Fire Claims Division, and I have contacted our representatives concerning your current home policy. Would your contraption be able to sustain the amount of necessary heat to preheat a hearth for the required time? Also, would thermal shock occur due to the amount of intense, immediate heat? Does thermal shock ever occur in ovens at all? I have never heard anyone talk about it. Thanks November. Adam

You are very right about not being a boring neighbor. Trust me though, that's absolutely nothing compared to the things that have happened on the residential premise when I was too lazy to take one of my chemical propulsion projects out to the official test site. I created one particular chemical compound which was unofficially dubbed "184" for the decibel level it achieved upon detonation of only three grams. It was of course too unstable for any prospective client to use, so I couldn't sell my research to anyone. Although, I take two 1-gram "delivery systems" with me when I go camping in the wilderness. I guarantee they will repel any attacking beast.

I imagine if you continue the flame-throwing for an extended time, such as 20-30 minutes, you should end up with a superheated oven depending on the size and mass of your oven. I don't think you'll have a problem with an oven experiencing thermal shock. You might get micro-fractures over time, but you should be able to prevent that by using very quick bursts initially, and progressively making the bursts longer. When I perform this in my bathroom, you can definitely hear surfaces warping and joints shifting in the form of crackling noises.

While an amusing thought, the whole reason for warming up the bathroom is so that it isn't as cold when I disrobe. I am fully clothed when I do this. If something should go wrong, I don't exactly want to run out of the house naked.

I created one particular chemical compound which was unofficially dubbed "184" for the decibel level it achieved upon detonation of only three grams. It was of course too unstable for any prospective client to use, so I couldn't sell my research to anyone. Although, I take two 1-gram "delivery systems" with me when I go camping in the wilderness. I guarantee they will repel any attacking beast.

As a policeman and in light of new post-911 legislature, I would hazard a guess that setting off your "184" in wilderness constitutes a bomb.Be careful!

As a policeman and in light of new post-911 legislature, I would hazard a guess that setting off your "184" in wilderness constitutes a bomb.Be careful!

As a past holder of a BATF explosives manufacturing license, I know that it is a bomb. Where it is set off is of little consequence if my life is in danger though, which is the only time I expect to be setting it off (other than initial testing a couple years ago). So far I have not had to use it in the wilderness.

David, the drywall and fixtures can take it. The air is unsurprisingly free of airborne mold too.

I just wanted to make it clear that I'm not an "explosives guy." I don't like to be around explosives. I was required to acquire a BATF explosives manufacturing license only because propellant is classified as a low explosive, and I certainly want to be involved with testing my own engineering. I will post a link to any videos within this post through editing, rather than cluttering up the thread further.

I have yet to meet an EOD or ATF guy that didn't go in for the BOOM factor. A firefighter that didn't admire a spectacular blaze or a cop that didn't like chasing and catching bad guys. Show me one trainman that doesn't get a rush when he gives his engine a point. Engineers of all walks keep a version of their own personal frankenstein someplace in their heads. A pal of mine works in N.M. and gets paid, as he calls it, to make things blow up bigger, faster, better and cheaper. Oh yeah, he's a physicist, but he still gets a chubby when his babies go BANG.I'm just saying - be careful.

You can also use Isopropanol (Isopropyl alcohol), which is just the oxide of propane. I actually heat my cold bathroom during the winter, just before I take a shower, using Isopropanol and a garden sprayer (with a brass tip) as a flame-throwing blow torch. It takes about 1.3 seconds to bring the temperature of the whole bathroom up from 54 F to 86 F. Just burning the Isopropanol after pouring it out onto a surface isn't enough. An air-injected Isopropanol flame combusts more completely and produces much higher temperatures. Even propane can't compete with it. I would like to point out at this time that I take no responsibility for anyone else's carelessness, and I make no warranty for the performance or safety of anyone else's Isopropanol flame-throwing apparatus.

- red.november

November, this really intrigues me.

Since I live in Michigan and the weather is getting a little nippy,I couldn't help but think of your bathroom heating technique when Icame down to the bathroom today. I predominantly heat with wood, so of course my bathroom was a little chilly. Just a couple of questions.

I have the hose and several brass tips to choose from, also maybe I could use acetylene since I have a good supply of that. My concern is: we have a vinyl shower curtain along with vinyl pulldown window blinds.Also we have stacks of magazines and my wife likes the towels with allot of fuzzy nap on them. Do I need to remove all these thing before I try out your "instant bathroom heating method" (my wife is a little particular) or have you had good luck in controlling flame bursts. I realize your post is from a while ago, but it's getting that time of the year again.

I wouldn't recommend acetylene for safety reasons. It is an explosive gas, and any leaks or over-dispensation and you could face structural or even collateral damage. I also wouldn't recommend it for the soot you'll likely leave behind from incomplete combustion. I have a rigid vinyl shower curtain that runs on a track, but it doesn't pose a problem if I'm only releasing short bursts. The idea is to quickly warm the air to a comfortable level, not try to heat it continually.

You certainly have extensive knowledge pertaining to combustible gases, indeed you are quite accurate in your assessment of the sooting problem associated with burning raw acetylene. Of coarse I would need to blend it with oxygen to get that white hot flame. However there is one other problem that I forgot to mention in the last post. Once I have successfully discharged that white hot flame burst it would no doubt consume all of the oxygen in the room, which of coarseneeds to be replenished before I can enjoy the comfortable temperature in the bathroom.My first instinct would be to open up the window and let some new fresh air in. This would of coarse cool down the room again and could lead to a vicious heating and cooling cycle.